Emmanuel Gregoire spoke in the presence of the Palestinian representative in France, Hala Abou-Hassira, who received a long round of applause [GETTY]
The City of Paris on Thursday granted honorary citizenship to Palestinian civilians and journalists, in a symbolic gesture of support for “the suffering the Palestinian people”.
“Honorary citizenship is not just a symbol, but a commitment to peace. We are extending a hand to an entire people,” Emmanuel Gregoire, the capital’s Socialist mayor, said before the Council of Paris.
He spoke in the presence of the Palestinian representative in France, Hala Abou-Hassira, who received a long round of applause.
“Recognising the suffering of the Palestinian people in no way erases that of the Israeli people,” said Gregoire.
“We will never forget October 7, 2023,” he added, stressing that the French capital had earlier granted honorary citizenship to the captives held in Gaza.
A resolution adopted by the Council of Paris said “the humanitarian situation of Gaza’s population remains dramatic”.
The right voted against the resolution, pointing to a resurgence of antisemitic acts in France.
Israel’s genocidal war has reduced much of the Palestinian territory to rubble, with an estimated death toll of more than 73,000 people, the majority of them civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Last week, Paris hosted a meeting of Palestinian and Israeli civil society groups, who urged global leaders to take urgent action and help implement a permanent ceasefire.
France, as well as Britain, Canada and several other countries, recognised a Palestinian state last year. Paris has earlier bestowed honorary citizenship on the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
